The warmer weather has finally arrived! Before you bust out the sunscreen and make for the outdoors, you’ll want to ensure that your home is also ready for the worst of summer’s heat.


These preparation tips will help your home stay cool without skyrocketing your energy bill. Also, making sure your home is properly prep for summer can help you get yourself and your family ahead of seasonal dust and allergies too.

Here are some things that you can do to get your home ready for the summer ahead, so that you can sit back when the hot weather settles and relax and soak in all that much-earned sunshine, while enjoying backyard barbeques, evening conversations on the patio, gardening, and playing outdoor games with the kids.

1. MAKE SURE YOUR BIG CLEANING IS ALL DONE.



One of the very best things that you can do to prep a home for summer weather, is to actually tackle that long spring cleaning list and making sure everything is done. In case you haven’t done it by early spring, there is still time to do it now.

There’s a reason that many homeowners choose to do an all-out deep clean in the spring or early summer. Lots of dust accumulates in the winter when homes are generally closed off to outside air. With warmer weather however comes a renewed sense of energy, plus extra sunlight for spotting all of that built-up debris. All the cleaning is about freshening up all of those things that you don’t usually get to in routine cleanings. Will also include some less common measures.

• Cleaning Walls And Ceilings. One simple way to make a homemade cleaning solution that will clean and disinfect walls and ceilings is to mix 1 cup of warm water, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply the cleaning solution by freely spraying it to your ceilings and walls and then, softly use a clean cloth or sponge to remove stains and excess liquid. Vacuuming curtains and blinds beforehand to help with the process, will maximize the good results of this operation.


• Double Check That The Gutters Are Cleaned. There’s something extra relaxing about a good summer rain. That is, so long as you don’t have to worry about moisture making its way into your home. Winter can take a toll on gutters, so go around the exterior of your home and double check that your gutters are cleaned out and that they’re all pointing in the right direction—i.e. away from your foundation. You never want there to be an opportunity for water to pool up near the base of your home since that can lead to expensive leakage problems.


• Clean Your Refrigerator Coils.Refrigerators can cause surprisingly high energy usage, especially when they’re not operating efficiently. To get the best performance from your unit, dust it off and clean up those condensing coils.


• Clean And Wash Seasonal Items. Go through your home and collect all of your fall and winter decorations such as heavy throw blankets and wintery spiced candles, so you can put the items into storage for the season. While you’re at it, take out summer items like lighter duvets, blankets, fans, and those not so reliable, yet comforting, citronella candles, and give them a quick wash or cleaning.


• Clean Your Patio Furniture. Soon you’ll be entertaining friends, relatives, and neighbors outside, so it’s time to prep lawn furniture or remove the furniture covers and do some cleaning. Use a power washer, a hose, or hand washer (depending on the materials of each item) to clean chairs, cushions, tables and other pieces of lawn furniture. You can also take steps to protect your patio furniture so that it lasts longer, by for example, giving a coat of oil to your wood furniture, after cleaning.

2. CLEVER YOUR WAY OUT OF EXPENSIVE ENERGY BILLS.



Summertime usually means high energy costs. More so after the 2023 costs spike. But here are some practical ways in which you can save.

• Conduct A Home Energy Audit. Now is the time to learn more about your home’s energy profile and what you can do to improve its energy efficiency. A home energy audit can tell you whether and where your home is drafty, for example, or if you need more insulation and where to install it. Whether you have it professionally done, or do it yourself, it’s worth it – and your local utility company may offer an incentive for homeowners to have this done.


• Get Your Air Conditioner Tuned Up. You should hire a professional for this task. You need to get your A/C tuned up before temperatures spike in the summer.  An A/C tune-up includes inspecting and cleaning components and connections inside your A/C, and it’s important because the technician should be able to tell whether your A/C will need repairs soon. With regular tune-ups, you can help avoid unexpected breakdowns and A/C issues.


• Install A Smart Thermostat. Install a smart thermostat so you can keep your home cool while also being more energy efficient. A smart thermostat lets you program your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, a complete home comfort system that can be used to heat and cool your home, as well as provide improved indoor air quality), to cool your home only when you’re in it, so you’ll save a bundle on cooling costs while still staying comfortable on even the hottest days.


• Turn Down Your Water Heater. Adjusting a water heater's temperature is a quick and easy fix. The thermostat dials on your water heater is likely near the bottom of the tank on the electric or gas control valve. It should be adjusted for cooler water in the summer. Be sure to check the owner's manual for instructions to adjust it -- and if you have any questions, consult a professional technician.


• Install Ceiling Fans In High-Trafficked Rooms. Ceiling fans operate on a wind-chill effect by pulling warm air up against the ceiling and then pushing it down against the walls to simulate a chilled breeze air circulation. For this effect to work, you’ll want to ensure your home’s fans are turning in a counter-clockwise rotation. If you have your A/C running you always want your ceiling fans to be running counterclockwise and running fans at a low speed, which will provide a comfortable downdraft and help redistribute cool air throughout the room.


• Use Solar Lights. It’s time to gear your garden up for summer with outdoor lights! Summer is about longer days outside and we can all transform our gardens into truly magical spaces for less. In preparation for those days, we can install solar power lighting, so we can take advantage of all that natural light, amp up the magical feels and still save on those dreaded electric bills. Choose solar lighting that is waterproof and check reviews for durable materials.

3. SPRUCE YOUR OUTDOORS FOR MAXIMUM SUMMER ENJOYMENT.



Whether you have a big lot or a couple of square foots available, you can still treat yourself and your family with the most engaing outdoors summer experience as possible by preparing for the heat to come.

• Practice Smart Landscaping. Now is one of the best times to make use of those green thumbs. Strategically planting shrubs and leafy trees near your home’s windows is the best way to produce a natural barrier that will prevent those same windows from transferring excess heat into your home. But remember to schedule that outdoor work during the cooler times of the day. Limiting outdoor activities to the morning and evening hours – rather than during the heat of midday – can help prevent heat injuries.


• Check For Any Problematic Areas In Your Yard. This includes identifying bushes or trees that didn’t make it through the winter as well as looking for other areas that might need a little bit of attention and care, such as dead patches of grass.


• Designate And Spruce At Least One Comfortable, Loungey Area. This space will maximize the comfort of your backyard inviting family and friends for a more enjoyable stay during those lazy days of summer. So spruce it with the addition of a hammock, outdoor daybed, outdoor sofa or weather-proof swing. Make sure to purchase furniture that is specifically made for the outdoors. The same goes for pillows and cushions. Look for fabric that is weather-proof, such as one made from water-proof canvas materials.


• Designate A Space For Your Grill And Meal Prep. You can’t have an outdoor oasis without a proper grill and meal prep area ready for barbecuing. Whether it’s a built-in grill or a stand-alone grill, make sure you have a practical outdoor kitchen set-up for entertaining at home.

4. THINK PRACTICAL.



There are plenty of things to do to make the most of your summer experience, and most of them are do-it-yourself projects. It's important to think practically: the more effort you put in now, the better the long-term rewards with durable results you’ll get. Additionally, you can take advantage of this opportunity and the good weather to address any structural issues.

• Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. Even if you’re not hearing that unwelcome chirping noise yet, it’s still a good idea to test out your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as you prep a home for summer. That’s because in addition to low batteries, accumulated dust could also inhibit these crucial detectors from working correctly, and it’s always better to address that sooner rather than later. Also, while you are at it, test your alarms and give them a good dusting. And if it’s time to change the batteries, be sure to do that now as well.


• Reseal Your Doors And Windows. Now is the time to inspect your doors and windows for missing, cracked, or peeling caulk and reseal them to prevent water leaks and draftiness. If you have wooden window frames, check to see if they need to be repainted. You can also take this opportunity to repaint your front door, if necessary, and wash your windows. Pay close attention to your attic and the levels between your home’s conditioned and unconditioned spaces. Extra insulation can be added on top of existing material, but consider contacting a professional for appropriate installation and removal.


• Get Ready For Bugs. Many species of insects go dormant during winter and early spring due to the colder weather, but they come out again in full force as soon as temperatures rise. Before the bugs come out, prepare your habitat for it. Take steps to keep the bugs away, clean up piles of leaves or other debris near your house, seal cracks in doors and windows, and inspect window screens for holes. If you want to put out pesticides or other repellants, now is the best time to do so. Also, avoid the proliferation of mosquitos, for example, by eliminating stored water that can become potential breeding grounds. This includes water in plant pots, large containers of water, tires, plastic bottles, unused and unmaintained pools, and even small containers like bottle caps.


• Refresh Your Home With Some Greenery. it's equally important to create a cool and refreshing indoor haven during those scorching summer days. One way to achieve this is by bringing in the beauty and freshness of indoor plants, which will not only enhance the aesthetics of your living space but will also purify the air, improve mood, and create a soothing ambiance. Some good choices are: Celosia, Sansevieria, Chlorophytum comosum, Spathiphyllum, Zamioculcas, Aloe Vera, Epipremnum aureum, Aglaonema, Nephrolepis and your regular Ficus.


• If You Dont Have A/C. In homes without A/C, roll down shutters during the day and open windows during the night. Preventing the entrance of light during the heat of the day will prevent a house from heating up too much, and the cooler temperatures of night and early morning will keep those temperatures lower.

At UrbaMarkt we hope these tips and recommendations will bring you the best summer eperience possible at home, for you and yours. Happy Summer Days!